Late heartache for Kelly’s kittens as Cork claim crown
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Final
Kilkenny 1-10 Cork 1-11
Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare)
An injury time point from Cork sub Fiona Nelligan saw the Jack McGrath Cup return to Leeside for a fifth time as Kilkenny came up just short against Donie Daly’s side. This year’s Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Final was always going to be a close affair and the clash in Croke Park lived up to its billing. Both majors were scored in the second half, and each gave the scoring team the advantage, but in the end, it would be Cork that just about got over the line at headquarters in the second of the triple bill.
Seamus Kelly’s Kilkenny side were appearing in their fifth decider at this grade and hoping to make it a third win, but his charges started a little nervously, hitting three wide’s in quick succession. A difficult to judge swirling breeze in Croker saw Danielle Morrissey off target from her first placed ball of the day, while Dicksboro’s Rachel Dowling ‘s radar was unlucky from two attempts. Cork opened the scoring in the decider, thanks to a sweet strike from Ballinora’s Cliona Dooley just outside the ‘D’.
Having missed three early chances, Kilkenny then hit the same number of points without reply. St Bridgid’s Claire Doheny hit a fine brace of scores, while Dicksboro’s Dowling made it third time lucky when she struck over from about 35 metres out to send the Noresiders into a two-point lead after eight minutes of the intermediate final. Rachel Whelan then fouled the lively Dooley, and 2-time senior All-Ireland winner Lauren Homan opened her account for the afternoon. The Brian Dillon’s clubwoman doubled her tally from another placed ball, a few minutes later, after she was crudely halted by Clara’s Whelan, who picked up a yellow card for her troubles as the sides were locked on 3 points apiece.
The next score in the final was a combination of battling qualities and execution of skill. Niamh O’Regan outfought her marker tight to the sideline and showed good pace and balance to create an angle to split the Kilkenny posts. The St Catherine’s player followed this effort up with another quality point. That was the Rebel’s fourth score on the trot as they edged into a 2-point lead. The Stripeywomen needed to respond, and they did just that, thanks to efforts from St Martin’s Carlise Comerford and defensive lynchpin Hannah Scott, as the sides were deadlocked for the 3rd time in the 2024 decider. The accurate Homan then was given the opportunity to add to her tally, when Kildare whistler Brian Kearney appeared to harshly adjudge Mairead Kennedy to have given an illegal handpass. Homan’s latest effort saw her side re take the lead on 23 minutes.
Meadhbh Ring then saw her name taken by the referee for a frontal challenge on Carlise Comerford and the Aghabullogue defender’s indiscretion was punished in the shape of Danielle Morrissey’s first point of the game, six minutes from the interval to level things once more. Cork skipper Homan, then sent over a lovely effort from play just before the short whistle sounded to leave Donie Daly’s side 1-point to the good as the teams headed to the changing rooms.
When play resumed, Kilkenny’s leader, Danielle Morrissey fired over from distance after working a sideline cut short, and taking the return. The first major of the game then came along and it went to the ladies in red. Cliona O’Callaghan collected the sliotar and headed for goal. The Blackrock attacker struck her effort into the ground, and it was the bouncing sliotar that beat the sprawling Cliona Murphy and ended up in the kitten’s net. The Leesiders now had a 3-point lead, which in a game of small margins, appeared big. Once again, Danielle Morrissey hit back for Seamus Kelly’s team, rifling over another placed ball after a Cork defender was blown up for taking a few too many steps.
Slieverue’s Caroline Kennedy, who had been on the periphery of things, was then stopped in her tracks illegally and again St Martin’s Morrissey converted the free awarded as the Cork lead was down to the bare minimum with 41 minutes on the clock. The Noresiders then made their first change of the afternoon, with St Brigid’s Kate McCluskey entering the fray in place of James Stephens Aoife Cantwell.
The influence that Kilkenny captain Morrissey was having on the game was about to go up another notch. Danielle took possession of the ball about ‘65 out in a central position. As usual, her first thought was taking a score and she dispatched a shot towards the Cork posts. Would it have the legs to produce the equalising score? ‘Barrs clubwoman and Cork netminder, Ciara Hurley stood and waited. As she sought to pick out the missile moving through the air, the Croker sun got the better of her and the sliotar slipped from her grasp and nestled in the net. Small margins, Kilkenny now led by 2 points at the midway point of the second half.
Cork’s Homan then tagged on another free to once again make it a 1-point game and that signaled a second roll of the dice from Seamus Kelly, who sent on Niamh Crowley for Rose Kelly. Claire Doheny then fired over her second point of the final to restore the Noresiders two-point lead. Cria Langton was then sprung from the bench, replacing the tiring Rachel Dowling as the Kilkenny management sought to employ fresh legs to see their side home. The next score was certainly a momentum shifter. Cork were awarded a free, close to the Hogan Stand sideline almost in line with posts. Up stepped their captain, Lauren Homan. The Brian Dillon’s player went through her normal routine and struck her effort beautifully between the Kilkenny posts. The Cork supporters were on their feet, saluting their leaders latest score. Her sixth and no doubt her sweetest. Less than four minutes of normal time remaining, The Marble City ladies lead down to just one point.
Both sides knew that time was running out, could those in black and amber hold on or could the Rebels find an equalising score? Cork attacked, the Kilkenny defence managed to turnover and secure the ball, but referee Kearney halted proceedings to allow treatment to an injured player in red. The game restarted with the man in charge throwing the ball in. Cork picked up possession and Cliona O’Callaghan popped over the levelling score.
Three minutes of additional time were announced over the Croker PA system. Could either side conjure up a winner? Again, the Rebels attacked, but it looked to most that Kilkenny had repelled the late surge. The ball was loose, down at the corner of the pitch, where the Davin meets the Hogan. Niamh Leahy came across and collected possession as the Cork pressure was about to be applied. The Emerald’s player struck her clearance, but unfortunately for her it went across the pitch and to the unmarked Fiona Nelligan. The Charleville livewire flicked the sliotar onto her hurl and struck it over the bar. There was to be no more scoring, The long whistle sounded. Cork were Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie champions 2024. Final score, Cork 1-11, Kilkenny 1-10.
Kilkenny: C Murphy, N Leahy, R Whelan, J Cass, M Kennedy, S Treacy, H Scott 0-1, D Morrissey 1-4 (0-3fs), L Ronan; C Comerford 0-1, R Dowling 0-1, A Cantwell, R Kelly, C Kennedy, C Doheny 0-3.
Subs: K McCluskey for Cantwell (43), N Crowley for Kelly (50), C Langton for Dowling (55)
Cork: C Hurley; A Barrett, N O’Leary, E Flanagan, L Doyle, O McAllen, M Ring, L Buttimer, A Cashman, E Sheehan, L Homan 0-6 (5fs), T McCarthy, C O’Callaghan 1-1, C Dooley 0-1, N O’Regan 0-2.
Subs: L Allen for Buttimer (39) E Duignan for Sheehan (45), F Nelligan 0-1 for O’Regan (52), E Curtin for Dooley (56), K Walsh for Cashman (60)
Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare)
